The hornyhead chub (Nocomis biguttatus) is a small species of minnow in the family Cyprinidae of order Cypriniformes. It mainly inhabits small rivers and streams of the northern central USA, up into Canada. The adults inhabit faster, rocky pools of rivers.
The hornyhead chub ranges from Wyoming, North Dakota, and South Dakota, east to the Hudson River drainage and south to Oklahoma. In South Dakota, the hornyhead chub is at the western edge of its range. Hornyhead chubs have been found in several water bodies in the Minnesota River Basin including the north and south forks of the Yellowbank River, Monigan Creek, Cobb Creek, Whetstone Creek, the North Fork of Whetstone Creek and Gary Creek in Roberts, Grant and Deuel Counties, as well as in Big Stone Lake in Grant County. In 1952, hornyhead chubs were documented to occur in the Big Sioux River drainage, but the exact location is unknown. The hornyhead chub has not been documented in the Big Sioux River drainage since the finding in 1952, and is likely extirpated from this watershed.[3] They are also found in the Mississippi River basin, Red River drainage, Ohio River and lower Kentucky River systems. They can be found from New York west into the Dakotas with isolated populations in the Platte and Colorado River Systems, and north from Manitoba and south into Kentucky. There are hornyhead chubs in Georgia below Chattahoochee Forest National Fish Hatchery on Rock Creek and Toccoa River in Suches,GA.[4]
DescriptionEdit
The Hornyhead chub is moderate in size and slightly subterminal with an inconspicuous barbel in corner of mouth. This fish has no teeth. A body pattern of a back olive brown in color, with its sides having silvery color, and a belly of white. It also has a dark lateral stripe and a spot at the base of the tail, which is faint or absent in some adults. Fins contain decorative markings. Its body shape is fusiform and robust, round in cross-section. Typical adult size is 100–150 mm TL (4–6 in), with a maximum of about 225 mm (9 in). It has a forked tail and a single relatively short dorsal fin with 8 rays and without spines. Its pelvic fins are abdominal and has no adipose fin. Lastly, its anal fin with 7 rays has no spines. Its distinguishing characteristics are its moderately slightly subterminal mouth, and its defining inconspicuous barbel in the corner of its mouth. It also uniquely has 38-48 lateral line scales and a dark lateral stripe and caudal spot. Breeding adults have numerous large pointed tubercles on the top of their heads, smaller tubercles on their pectoral fins and a red or orange spot on the upper opercle behind their eyes. However juveniles look similar to adults, but have more obvious lateral stripes and caudal spots, and their tails are typically more reddish than the adult's tail.[5] Adults can grow to 11 cm or more, and males commonly grow tubercles on their head during spawning season.
HabitatEdit
The hornyhead chub is found in rocky pools and runs of creeks and small to medium-sized rivers. The hornyhead chub inhabits riffle/pool sections of small streams to medium-sized rivers. Although they are occasionally found in dark-water streams, they are more commonly found in clear-water streams. Presence is inversely related to turbidity. Vegetation does not necessarily have an effect on abundance of adults, however, the young use vegetation extensively for cover and are found in higher concentrations in these areas, at least for the first several weeks to one month of life. This species is commonly found in water depths of 2 – 6 feet (60 – 181 cm).[6]
Life history and reproductionEdit
Hornyhead chubs spawn from May through June. They become sexually mature at 2 to 3 years of age. Males build a cup shaped depression that they build up with pebbles that can be as large as 1–3 feet across and 6-8 inches high.[3] Eggs and sperm are deposited in depressions in the nests and covered with gravel. Males defend the nest mounds from other N. biguttatus males but not other species. Other species take advantage of this defense and spawn in the nest mounds.[4] The result of this is sometimes accidental hybridization. The same male may spawn with several females.[6]
DietEdit
The hornyhead chub is a visual feeder that is active primarily during daylight. A variety of plant and animal food items are commonly reported for hornyhead chubs. Animal food items for the young include: rotifers, cladocerans, copepods, chironomids, and aquatic insect larvae. Older hornyhead chubs are known to consume: clams, snails, crayfish, worms, aquatic insect larvae, and fish.[6]
Importance to humansEdit
Due to the fact that smallmouth bass, northern pike, and rock bass are thought to prey on the hornyhead chub, this type of minnow is often used as bait during fishing expeditions.[7]
Conservation statusEdit
Globally, the status of the hornyhead chub is secure, but it is considered Critically Imperiled in Wyoming, Kansas, and Pennsylvania, and Possibly or Presumed Extirpated in Colorado and Nebraska.[8] Currently, the National Heritage Program has assigned the hornyhead chub a global ranking of G5 suggesting that the species’ existence is globally secure and of least concern (LC).[9]
Etymology of nameEdit
Etymology: Nocomis: An indigenous (North America) name used by Charles Girard; ojibwe, nokomis = grandmother. Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Cypriniformes (Carps) > Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps) > Leuciscinae.[10]
Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2006). "Nocomis biguttatus" in FishBase. April 2006 version.
"Hornyhead Chub | Fish." Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica, n.d. Web. 4 May 2015.
"HORNYHEAD CHUB." SD GFP. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 May 2015.
"Fish Details." Fish Details. University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute, n.d. Web. 2 May 2015.
Gundersen, Jeff, Paul Tucker, and Richards Carl. "Aquaculture Potential for Hornyhead (Redtail) Chubs " Oecologia 175.1 (2014): 325–34. 2008. Web.
Report on the Status of the Hornyhead Chub Nocomis Biguttatus in Canada. Ottawa: Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, 1988. Web.
"Hornyhead Chub." Fishes of Boneyard Creek. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 May 2015.
August 27, 2023
hornyhead, chub, hornyhead, chub, nocomis, biguttatus, small, species, minnow, family, cyprinidae, order, cypriniformes, mainly, inhabits, small, rivers, streams, northern, central, into, canada, adults, inhabit, faster, rocky, pools, rivers, conservation, sta. The hornyhead chub Nocomis biguttatus is a small species of minnow in the family Cyprinidae of order Cypriniformes It mainly inhabits small rivers and streams of the northern central USA up into Canada The adults inhabit faster rocky pools of rivers Hornyhead chubConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ActinopterygiiOrder CypriniformesFamily CyprinidaeSubfamily LeuciscinaeGenus NocomisSpecies N biguttatusBinomial nameNocomis biguttatusJ P Kirtland 1840Synonyms 2 Semotilus biguttatus Kirtland 1840 Luxilus kentuckiensis Rafinesque 1820 Nocomis nebracensis Girard 1856 Ceratichthys cyclotis Cope 1865 Ceratichthys stigmaticus Cope 1865 Contents 1 Range 2 Description 3 Habitat 4 Life history and reproduction 5 Diet 6 Importance to humans 7 Conservation status 8 Etymology of name 9 Notes 10 ReferencesRange EditThe hornyhead chub ranges from Wyoming North Dakota and South Dakota east to the Hudson River drainage and south to Oklahoma In South Dakota the hornyhead chub is at the western edge of its range Hornyhead chubs have been found in several water bodies in the Minnesota River Basin including the north and south forks of the Yellowbank River Monigan Creek Cobb Creek Whetstone Creek the North Fork of Whetstone Creek and Gary Creek in Roberts Grant and Deuel Counties as well as in Big Stone Lake in Grant County In 1952 hornyhead chubs were documented to occur in the Big Sioux River drainage but the exact location is unknown The hornyhead chub has not been documented in the Big Sioux River drainage since the finding in 1952 and is likely extirpated from this watershed 3 They are also found in the Mississippi River basin Red River drainage Ohio River and lower Kentucky River systems They can be found from New York west into the Dakotas with isolated populations in the Platte and Colorado River Systems and north from Manitoba and south into Kentucky There are hornyhead chubs in Georgia below Chattahoochee Forest National Fish Hatchery on Rock Creek and Toccoa River in Suches GA 4 Description EditThe Hornyhead chub is moderate in size and slightly subterminal with an inconspicuous barbel in corner of mouth This fish has no teeth A body pattern of a back olive brown in color with its sides having silvery color and a belly of white It also has a dark lateral stripe and a spot at the base of the tail which is faint or absent in some adults Fins contain decorative markings Its body shape is fusiform and robust round in cross section Typical adult size is 100 150 mm TL 4 6 in with a maximum of about 225 mm 9 in It has a forked tail and a single relatively short dorsal fin with 8 rays and without spines Its pelvic fins are abdominal and has no adipose fin Lastly its anal fin with 7 rays has no spines Its distinguishing characteristics are its moderately slightly subterminal mouth and its defining inconspicuous barbel in the corner of its mouth It also uniquely has 38 48 lateral line scales and a dark lateral stripe and caudal spot Breeding adults have numerous large pointed tubercles on the top of their heads smaller tubercles on their pectoral fins and a red or orange spot on the upper opercle behind their eyes However juveniles look similar to adults but have more obvious lateral stripes and caudal spots and their tails are typically more reddish than the adult s tail 5 Adults can grow to 11 cm or more and males commonly grow tubercles on their head during spawning season Habitat EditThe hornyhead chub is found in rocky pools and runs of creeks and small to medium sized rivers The hornyhead chub inhabits riffle pool sections of small streams to medium sized rivers Although they are occasionally found in dark water streams they are more commonly found in clear water streams Presence is inversely related to turbidity Vegetation does not necessarily have an effect on abundance of adults however the young use vegetation extensively for cover and are found in higher concentrations in these areas at least for the first several weeks to one month of life This species is commonly found in water depths of 2 6 feet 60 181 cm 6 Life history and reproduction EditHornyhead chubs spawn from May through June They become sexually mature at 2 to 3 years of age Males build a cup shaped depression that they build up with pebbles that can be as large as 1 3 feet across and 6 8 inches high 3 Eggs and sperm are deposited in depressions in the nests and covered with gravel Males defend the nest mounds from other N biguttatus males but not other species Other species take advantage of this defense and spawn in the nest mounds 4 The result of this is sometimes accidental hybridization The same male may spawn with several females 6 Diet EditThe hornyhead chub is a visual feeder that is active primarily during daylight A variety of plant and animal food items are commonly reported for hornyhead chubs Animal food items for the young include rotifers cladocerans copepods chironomids and aquatic insect larvae Older hornyhead chubs are known to consume clams snails crayfish worms aquatic insect larvae and fish 6 Importance to humans EditDue to the fact that smallmouth bass northern pike and rock bass are thought to prey on the hornyhead chub this type of minnow is often used as bait during fishing expeditions 7 Conservation status EditGlobally the status of the hornyhead chub is secure but it is considered Critically Imperiled in Wyoming Kansas and Pennsylvania and Possibly or Presumed Extirpated in Colorado and Nebraska 8 Currently the National Heritage Program has assigned the hornyhead chub a global ranking of G5 suggesting that the species existence is globally secure and of least concern LC 9 Etymology of name EditEtymology Nocomis An indigenous North America name used by Charles Girard ojibwe nokomis grandmother Actinopterygii ray finned fishes gt Cypriniformes Carps gt Cyprinidae Minnows or carps gt Leuciscinae 10 Notes Edit NatureServe 2013 Nocomis biguttatus The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013 e T202273A18235841 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2013 1 RLTS T202273A18235841 en Synonyms of Nocomis biguttatus Kirtland 1840 Fishbase Retrieved 23 November 2017 a b Landowner Programs South Dakota Game Fish and Parks gfp sd gov a b Hornyhead Chub Fishes of Boneyard Creek Grant UW Sea Fish Details www seagrant wisc edu a b c Archived copy PDF Archived from the original PDF on 24 September 2015 Retrieved 8 May 2015 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link Hatch Jay T Fishes of Minnesota Hornyhead chub academics cehd umn edu Comprehensive Report Species Nocomis biguttatus www natureserve org Region 2 Land amp Resource Management PDF www fs fed us Nocomis biguttatus summary page FishBase References EditFroese Rainer Pauly Daniel eds 2006 Nocomis biguttatus in FishBase April 2006 version Hornyhead Chub Fish Encyclopaedia Britannica Online Encyclopaedia Britannica n d Web 4 May 2015 Article title HORNYHEAD CHUB SD GFP N p n d Web 3 May 2015 Fish Details Fish Details University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute n d Web 2 May 2015 Gundersen Jeff Paul Tucker and Richards Carl Aquaculture Potential for Hornyhead Redtail Chubs Oecologia 175 1 2014 325 34 2008 Web Report on the Status of the Hornyhead Chub Nocomis Biguttatus in Canada Ottawa Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada 1988 Web Hornyhead Chub Fishes of Boneyard Creek N p n d Web 5 May 2015 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hornyhead chub amp oldid 1170156386, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
